US 5,291,809 AGranted

Locking adapter for socket wrench

OwnerLeonard J. Fox, III, Bruce A. Heckbertinventors

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Abstract

A short shaft has: a rear socket for coupling with a drive; a front drive for receiving a socket; and locking components for locking the rear socket to the drive and the front drive to the received socket. A central bore enters the shaft from the rear. A locking bolt and biasing spring go in the central bore and are retrained by a set screw. The locking bolt front end engages a detent ball disposed in a radial cavity in the drive. A thumb lever, disposed in a bore, has an inner end including a bore for engaging the locking bolt rear section for moving the locking bolt and an outer end accessible to a user's thumb for axial movement for moving the bolt from a locking position wherein the detent ball protrudes out of the drive so as to engage a drive socket and prevent its removal to a releasing position wherein the detent ball resides substantially within the front drive so as not to engage a drive socket. In an alternate embodiment, a universal joint is interposed between the rear socket and the locking/front drive apparatus.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A locking adapter for use with a drive member of a socket wrench system;

said locking adapter comprising:
a shaft having:
a rear end including:
a rear free end surface;
coupling means for coupling said rear end to a socket system drive;
and
a front end including:
receiving means for torque-transferring engagement with a socket wrench system drive socket;
and
drive socket locking means for locking a drive socket onto said receiving means;
said drive socket locking means being operable between a first position for positively locking a drive socket to said receiving means and a second position for releasing a drive socket;
said drive socket locking means comprising:
a central bore within said shaft extending from said shaft rear free end surface;
a thumb lever bore extending radially from said central bore and exiting said shaft;
a radial cavity from said central bore through said receiving means;
a detent disposed in said radial cavity in said receiving means;
when said locking means is in its locking position, said detent having a locking position wherein it protrudes out of said receiving means so as to engage a drive socket and prevent its removal from said receiving means;
when said locking means is in its releasing position, said detent having a releasing position wherein it resides substantially within said receiving means so as not to engage a drive socket;
a locking bolt within said central bore including:
a front section;
and
a rear section;
said bolt being axially moveable such that as said bolt is moved from a release position to a locking position, its said front section contacts and moves said detent from its release position to its locking position;
retaining means releasably attached to said shaft for retaining a spring biasing means in said central bore;
spring biasing means in said central bore for biasing said bolt in its locking position;
said spring biasing means having:
a fore end bearing against said locking bolt rear section;
and
an aft end bearing against said retaining means;
and
a thumb lever disposed in said thumb lever bore;
said thumb lever having;
an inner end including:
engaging means for engaging said locking bolt rear section for moving said locking bolt to the releasing position;
and
an outer end accessible to a user's thumb for axial movement for moving said bolt from its locking position to its release position.

33 more elements

In combination:

a drive ratchet of a socket wrench system including:
a handle;
and
a drive member;
and
a locking adapter for use with said drive member comprising:
a shaft having:
a rear end including:
a rear free end surface;
coupling means for coupling said rear end to said ratchet drive member;
and
a front end including:
receiving means for torque-transferring engagement with a socket wrench system drive socket;
and
drive socket locking means for locking a drive socket onto said receiving means;
said drive socket locking means being operable between a first position for positively locking a drive socket to said receiving means and a second position for releasing a drive socket;
said drive socket locking means comprising:
a central bore within said shaft extending from said shaft rear free end surface;
a thumb lever bore extending radially from said central bore and exiting said shaft;
a radial cavity from said central bore through said receiving means;
a detent disposed in said radial cavity in said receiving means;
when said locking means is in its locking position, said detent having a locking position wherein it protrudes out of said receiving means so as to engage a drive socket and prevent its removal from said receiving means;
when said locking means is in its releasing position, said detent having a releasing position wherein it resides substantially within said receiving means so as not to engage a drive socket;
a locking bolt within said central bore including:
a front section;
and
a rear section;
said bolt being axially moveable such that as said bolt is moved from a release position to a locking position, its said front section contacts and moves said detent from its release position to its locking position;
retaining means releasably attached to said shaft for retaining a spring biasing means in said central bore;
spring biasing means in said central bore for biasing said bolt in its locking position;
said spring biasing means having:
a fore end bearing against said locking bolt rear section;
and
an aft end bearing against said retaining means;
and
a thumb lever disposed in said thumb lever bore;
said thumb lever having;
an inner end including:
engaging means for engaging said locking bolt rear section for moving said locking bolt to the releasing position;
and
an outer end accessible to a user's thumb for axial movement for moving said bolt from its locking position to its release position.

38 more elements

A locking adapter for use with a drive member of a socket wrench system;

said locking adapter comprising:
a shaft having:
a rear end including:
a rear free end surface;
coupling means for coupling said rear end to a socket system drive;
and
a front end including:
receiving means for torque-transferring engagement with a socket wrench system drive socket;
and
drive socket locking means for locking a drive socket onto said receiving means;
said drive socket locking means being operable between a first position for positively locking a drive socket to said receiving means and a second position for releasing a drive socket;
said drive socket locking means comprising:
a blind, stepped-down central bore within said shaft extending from said shaft rear free end surface;
a thumb lever bore extending radially from said central bore and exiting said shaft;
a radial cavity from said central bore through said receiving means;
a detent disposed in said radial cavity in said receiving means;
when said locking means is in its locking position, said detent having a locking position wherein it protrudes out of said receiving means so as to engage a drive socket and prevent its removal from said receiving means;
when said locking means is in its releasing position, said detent having a releasing position wherein it resides substantially within said receiving means so as not to engage a drive socket;
a locking bolt within said central bore including:
a front section;
and
a rear section;
said bolt being axially moveable such that as said bolt is moved from a release position to a locking position, its said front section contacts and moves said detent from its release position to its locking position;
retaining means releasably attached to said shaft for retaining a spring biasing means in said central bore;
spring biasing means in said central bore for biasing said bolt in its locking position;
said spring biasing means having:
a fore end bearing against said locking bolt rear section;
and
an aft end bearing against said retaining means;
and
a thumb lever disposed in said thumb lever bore;
said thumb lever having;
an inner end including:
engaging means for engaging said locking bolt rear section for moving said locking bolt to the releasing position;
and
an outer end accessible to a user's thumb for axial movement for moving said bolt from its locking position to its release position.

33 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/117,635Filed 7 Sep 1993 · continuation
Priority: 2 Mar 1992
Granted: 8 Mar 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

B25B 15/001
Screwdrivers: characterised by material or shape of the tool bit
B25B 23/0014
Connections or joints between tool parts: screwdriver- or wrench-heads provided with cardan joints or the like
B25B 23/0035
Connections or joints between tool parts: connection means between socket or screwdriver bit and tool
B25B
Tools or bench devices not otherwise provided for, for fastening, connecting, disengaging